Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Drought and People’s Resentment

After taking the list, Zhao Huai quickly left.

Although he had spent three days and nights in the basement, the time had passed quickly.

There was no sense of time in seclusion, and the bright sun now made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

At this moment, it was in the afternoon, and the streets were crowded with vendors and merchant teams. Passers-by leading horses could often be seen on the street.

There were almost no cultivators on the street, mostly scholars with fans, and occasionally two swordsmen walking together.

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“Believe in Crow Immortal, and you shall enjoy favorable weather and be free from illness!”

“You may enter paradise and attain wealth!”

At this time, there were several groups of people wearing black robes, shouting loudly and banging drums and gongs in a grand manner.

Embroidered on their clothes were crows, which seemed to represent some kind of sect.

Zhao Huai glanced at them and raised an eyebrow, “Believe in Crow Immortal?

What kind of organization is this?”

Then, he shook his head and ignored it.

As he walked along, he looked at the list and slowly read, “Three taels of distiller’s yeast… Is Madam planning to brew wine?”

“Besides, there’s also a porcelain incense burner with azure crane-decorated,

Silver Thread Embroidered Lotus Purse, jade bean cake….”

“Since that’s the case, let’s go buy the distiller’s yeast first.’

Zhao Huai turned into a small alley paved with bluestones, where occasionally drunkards could be seen staggering past with flushed faces.

When he reached the end of the alley, a shop appeared before him.

The yellow wine flag hung with the character ‘Sun’. The shop was small with only five square tables and more than a dozen wine jars inside.

One could say that the wine in this shop was famous far and wide, selling as well as opium, and a favorite drink for some drinkers before dinner.

Due to its popularity, all five tables were occupied with guests dressed in Shu embroidered jade belts, all being gentry from Jinzhou City, when Zhao Huai arrived.

Zhao Huai didn’t care about them and directly called out, “Old Sun, bring me a pot of Xiaoyao Wine.”

“Alright! Da Zhuang, serve Boss Zhao some wine!”

The owner of the wine shop was a man in his fifties. His brewing skills were truly excellent, and the wine in the shop was often sold out.

He and Zhao Huai were also acquaintances. Zhao Huai would always come to this shop whenever he wanted to buy wine, occasionally chatting with the owner. Over time, they had become familiar with each other and would call each other “Old Sun”.

Seeing Zhao Huai, Old Sun recognized him at once and smilingly greeted him: “Good afternoon, Boss Zhao! You haven’t been here for a few days.”

“Well, I’ve been busy lately.”

Zhao Huai replied softly, his gaze then falling on the wine jars, and he asked: “Old Sun, do you have distiller’s yeast here? My wife wants to brew some wine and needs three taels of distiller’s yeast. We can talk about the price.”

“Of course.”

Old Sun, with a grin in his eyes, went into the shop and soon brought out a small bag of distiller’s yeast, handing it to Zhao Huai.

“How much does it cost?”

Old Sun pretended to disdain: “Oh, come on, we’re so familiar already, just some yeast, it’s a gift for Boss Zhao.”

“Thanks a lot.”

Zhao Huai didn’t refuse and put away the distiller’s yeast.

“Go away, you vagrant! Keep your distance!”

“Scram, you’re really bad luck!”

As they spoke, a series of curses came from near the tables.

Zhao Huai looked over.

“Sir, please show some compassion, just give me a few copper coins. My child has been hungry for days.”

A dirt-streaked beggar woman could be seen, hunched over and pleading with the drinker at the wine table, her eyes filled with tears.

She held a broken porcelain bowl in her hand with a yellow face so skinny that her bones were showing. It was pitiful.

Her other hand was holding the hand of an eight-year-old girl. The girl’s face was dirty, but her eyes were bright and pure. “I said scram! Didn’t you hear me?”

“Boss! Do something!”

The female beggar stood in front of a round-faced drinker who was holding his nose and cursing, seemingly unable to bear the stench coming from her.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Old Sun rushed forward with an apologetic smile, leading the mother and daughter away.

He then took out a handful of copper coins from his sleeve and placed them in the beggar woman’s bowl, sighing:

“Take it.”

“Thank you… thank you!”

The beggar woman, who had been too ashamed to raise her head just now, still shrunk her head timidly, choking up in gratitude, as she led her daughter away dejectedly.

Zhao Huai glanced at the drinker, frowning slightly, confused in his heart.

He then turned to Old Sun and asked:

“Haven’t seen any vagrants in Jinzhou for a long time. What happened?”Old Sun sighed helplessly: “There is a great drought this year. Many farmers in the outer city have no harvest. Many people are starving. They are all poor and helpless.”

“Didn’t the government do anything?” Zhao Huai frowned.

Old Sun glanced around and whispered: “The government can’t do much. I heard from my cousin who is an official, the grains stored in previous years have all been used as military salary.”

Hearing this, Zhao Huai’s frown deepened even further.

“Young Master, your wine is ready.”

The apprentice in the shop looked unfamiliar, presumably new and honest-looking, handing the wine to Zhao Huai with both hands.

“Let’s go.”

Zhao Huai threw down a silver coin and left directly.

“Young Master gave too much!” The apprentice quickly shouted.

“Take it as a reward.”

Zhao Huai walked with the wine, passing by the alleys, and faintly heard angry shouts.

“This little money! It’s only enough for a few meals?!”

“What a waste! You got so little for half a day!”

Ever since breaking through the Initiation Stage, his spiritual power was incredibly sharp, and he could hear sounds even from far away.

Following the footsteps, the sound got closer and closer.

In front of him was a disheveled male beggar, wearing tattered shorts, barefoot, and pointing at a mother and daughter as he cursed.

This mother and daughter were none other than the female beggar and the little girl whom Zhao Huai had seen earlier.

“Hurry up and beg some more! Or you won’t get any dinner tonight!”

The male beggar clutched a handful of copper coins, his face fierce.

The female beggar could only protect the little girl’s head, bowing her head in silence.

“Still hesitating?!”

Seeing that the two still didn’t move, the male beggar reached out to slap her.

But just as he raised his hand, he found that he couldn’t move it.

It felt like something was holding it back.

When he looked back, he saw a very handsome young man.

“Get lost.”

Zhao Huai looked cold and indifferent as he spoke lightly.

With a gentle tug, he flung the male beggar to the ground.

The male beggar’s face flashed with terror. He didn’t dare to fight back, scrambled to his feet, and dashed away without looking back.

Zhao Huai picked up the copper coins from the ground and took out a fragment of silver from his waist, handing it to the female beggar.

“Take it and leave quickly.”

“Thank you, Young Master…”

The female beggar choked up as tears streamed down her face. Without lingering, she walked away with the little girl.

When Zhao Huai looked back, he saw some beggars lying in disarray in the shadows of far-off alleys, shrinking into corners, motionless, not knowing whether they were dead or alive.

Other beggars were eyeing the direction of the mother and daughter, their eyes shining brightly.

However, upon seeing Zhao Huai’s gaze, they all lowered their heads, not daring to look again.

In his martial robes, tall and with bright eyes, Zhao Huai exuded an aura of power which no one would dare to mess with since he had broken through the Initiation Stage.

The corners of the alley were desolate and filled with an icy silence, making people feel uncomfortable.

Sounds of barking from the courtyards of wealthy households could be heard in the distance.

“What a prosperous age.”

Zhao Huai shook his head and turned away.

Not long after he left…

The sounds of gongs and drums came from the streets and then entered the alleys.

“Believe in Crow Immortal, and you’ll have favorable weather and immunity from disease!”

“Join our Raven Sect and receive a ration of rice. The Crow Immortal will bless you, grant you heavenly bliss in the afterlife, and wealth and nobility in the next life!”

Devoted believers walked through the alleys, shouting loudly.

“Do they really have rice?”

A gaunt beggar crawled out and asked hopefully.

“Of course, it’s true. Join the Raven Sect, and you’ll have enough rice.” The leading believer smiled faintly, confident in his words.